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Update: The woman suspected of colliding with Ava Renee Moore was
arrested Tuesday. Read more here.

We're learning more about an 18-year-old woman who was hit and killed
while kayaking on Grapevine Lake over Memorial Day weekend.

Investigators said two women on a personal watercraft hit Ava Renee
Moore as she was kayaking in Grapevine Lake on Sunday. When first
responders arrived, the two women were no longer there. Video shared
with NBC 5 showed several people carrying Moore out of the water and
trying to provide first aid. Despite the life-saving efforts of
witnesses and first responders, Moore died from severe traumatic
injuries.

During a press conference on Wednesday morning, officials read out a
statement from Moore's family.

"We are so thankful for the countless messages and demonstrations of
love and support, but most grateful for the many prayers we have
received," Moore's family said. "This is a difficult time for all
involved, but also an opportunity for our beautiful girl to continue to
impact our community. Out of this tragedy, God will make good, and that
only can be accomplished through forgiveness. We respectfully ask for
our time and privacy to grieve, and thank you for all of your kindness
and support. God bless."

A friend since middle school who graduated from Keller Timber View High
School with Moore in 2024, Brenden Bouyer, said she was determined, very strong-willed, and loved bringing people together.

“She hated discourse," Bouyer said. "She hated arguments. She always
loved love. She always loved happiness, unity. She always loved to bring
people together to make them smile.”

After 10 months in Colorado Springs attending the US Air Force Academy Preparatory School, Moore graduated on May 19 and recently accepted an appointment to join the US Air Force Academy as a member of the Class of
2029.

“We lost an exemplary teammate this weekend – Cadet Candidate Ava Moore, whose passion for leadership and service left an impact on everyone she
met. Ava’s constant happiness and attitude helped her squadron get
through the challenges of the Prep School, and her drive to excel was on display as she sought out leadership positions to improve herself and
her team,” said Lt. Gen. Tony Bauernfeind, U.S. Air Force Academy superintendent. “Our team is focused on providing support to Ava’s
family, her Prep School Squadron, the Prep School Women’s Basketball
team, and the entire Academy family.”

Moore was an accomplished basketball player, beloved by her teammates
and coaches, who are now left heartbroken and in disbelief.

Moore met coach Ke'Sha Blanton at the USAFA prep school. Blanton said
word of Moore's death was nothing short of devastating.

"Broke my heart for our players, broke my heart for our parents and her
family. And then it just broke my heart, because you don't realize as a
coach how much these players really impact you," Blanton said.

She remembered Moore as a hard worker, dependable, loyal, funny and
motivated. She said Moore was home enjoying life before starting basic
training for the US Air Force Academy.

"I was proud of her. You know, as a coach, I don't think we take the
time to tell our players that enough because we're so busy pushing them
to that next goal, that next statement, that next thing that we want
them to achieve," Blanton said. "So my biggest thing was, I was proud of
her. I was proud of everything that she was doing and how, no matter
what the storm was, she made her way through it. So I think that would
be the one thing that I wish I would have emphasized a lot more."

Blanton said Moore was there to protect her country and thought she
could have been a four-star general one day. She said she was a star
taken from the world, and now she and Moore's teammates are making plans
for a final goodbye.

"We'll go celebrate her life and to be able to get with my players and
one last time be a team with her, that's kind of where I am. Just get to
my kids, get to my kids and we have that moment together," Blanton said.
"We went 21-0 this season and this is the first loss we've taken and
it's an unimaginable loss and so we've gone through the good together
and we're gonna get through the bad together."

Blanton, now a recruiting coordinator and assistant coach at Tulane,
said USAF prep school leaders, their commander and lieutenants, will
join her in North Texas to celebrate Moore's life.

https://www.nbcdfw.com/news/local/kayaker-killed-grapevine-lake-athlete-u saf-academy/3849923/

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